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The archive is either in unknown format or damaged

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  • Storage
  • Format
Last response: in Storage
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October 1, 2013 3:00:33 PM

Accidentally I deleted my rar archives. Using the program getdata recover my files, I was able to get the files back on my drive. When I try to open them, I receive that error. What should I do? I try many rar recover programs but nothing seems to work.

I have to mention that the archive was password protected and video files where contained into it.
When I look at the size of the archive is correct but I cannot open it.

More about : archive unknown format damaged

a b G Storage
October 1, 2013 3:04:59 PM

then the data was overwritten. recovery programs just look for the pointer in the deleted file table to see where the file was. it was say it was at sectors 2,9,86,443,4467,32226 as it's scattered across the hard drive. if you did anything, even open a webpage and it downloads an image and the pc puts that image at 443,888,9999 as it finds empty sectors, and because you deleted the file, it thinks 443 is empty, so it reuses it. Now the recovery program tries to recover 2,9,86,443,4467,32226 and it pulls part of the picture into the archive.


Point is, data recovery is only good if the drive isn't used at all after something was deleted. This includes even web browsing, playing a game, whatever. Recover as soon as it's deleted. Even an hour later, those sectors can be overwritten.
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October 1, 2013 3:08:31 PM

i cant take that as an answer. Is got to be a way because I was able to recover other files from that same drive. it is just the archives that dont open (especially those with .mov inside). Other types are open fine.
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a b G Storage
October 1, 2013 3:20:16 PM

maybe because the other files weren't overwritten, but take what you want as an answer. If you've tried a bunch of different recovery programs and they don't recover it properly, well then........
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October 1, 2013 3:23:54 PM

All I am saying is that it will be nice to hear someone giving me some instruction to try something instead telling me that is not working. I am working with computers for the last 30 years but I am not expert on data recovery.

Regardless I appreciate your responses and thank you.
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a b G Storage
October 1, 2013 3:35:05 PM

Don't know what else to tell you, if the recovery programs are recovering a file that isn't actually readable, it's because the data was overwritten. Maybe it's just the header. If you want to dive in hex work, open the file with a hex editor and see if the header matches a proper RAR file header.
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October 1, 2013 3:38:25 PM

I download a hex editor but dont know what I am looking. Everything look Chinese (or Greek if you prefer).

I am not loosing my hope because somehow I'll be able to recover these files.
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October 3, 2013 6:51:09 PM

Is anyone else interest to find a solution? or I have to take an easy cannot do by someone that doesn't want to help?
There is always a way to fix a technical problem and I am looking for an experienced troubleshooter.

btw, I am coming a little strong here but I want to share a quick story.

A while ago a friend of mine ask me to recover material from his drive that wasn't working properly. After long research, I found out that placing the drive in the freezer!!! and then after a while trying to read it, it will allow to be cool down and not overheat. That surprising solution allowed me to believe that sometimes, even extreme solutions can be apply to fix a problem.

So, how can I recover my movies from these archives? Is any way to open the archive piece by piece?
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a b G Storage
October 4, 2013 3:14:40 AM

Yes, there is a way sometimes for a technical solution, not always. If the data is overwritten, as I said could possible be the case, it's gone. There is no solution that we have available to bring something back that is gone. Gone is gone.

Let me ask this, when you started recovering the files, did you try to recover them on the same drive
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March 28, 2014 3:31:43 PM

i have the same problem and yes i tried roecovering to the same drive...
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October 13, 2014 4:54:25 AM

Same problem here , I believe there's a way i can recover part of my data at least .
Please let me know if you got the solution .
Thanks,
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